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Legislators Talk About Importance of Faith

By Tiffany Vail

At a first-of-its-kind event on Friday, more than 30 people from 11 Connecticut Conference churches came to the Legislative Office Building to meet with three legislators who are members of CTUCC churches. They talked about issues ranging from environmental protection to gambling to economic justice and reproductive rights.

Conference Minister the Rev. Kent Siladi opened up the gathering by talking about the intersection of faith and politics.

“We believe that Christianity cannot be just confined to the private, personal part of life. In our tradition in the United Church of Christ we believe that faith is expressed in the public square,” he said “We believe that once a person embraces a faith, it has implications for the believer, the community and the pursuit of the common good.”

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Related:

Forum on the Economic & Social Costs of Expanded Gambling in CT
April 30, 2019 at 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
CT State Capitol, Room 310, Hartford, CT

The Women’s Caucus of the Connecticut State Legislature is hosting a forum on the economic and social downside of further gambling in the state, including casinos, internet gambling, and sports betting. Legislative Advocate Michele Mudrick asks everyone to urge their representatives and senators to attend. Read more 


More Feedback Sought for New Conference Name

More feedback is being sought about what the name should be for the new conference being formed by the  Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences.

The conference, which General Synod is being asked to approve in June, is provisionally being called the Together As One Conference.

A task team from the Together As One Board of Directors has been working on a process for naming the new conference. That process will be discussed by the full board this weekend.

In the meantime, the task team is asking people to choose their top three choices from the names that have been suggested thus far, and asking for short explanations about their choices. Those filling out the survey may also make new suggestions.

Take the survey here

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Making God’s Love and Justice Real at Lighthouse Shops

By The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix, Transitional Conference Minister, Rhode Island Conference, UCC

Since coming to the Rhode Island Conference in July, I have traveled around the state, visiting with RICUCC churches, meeting folks and sometimes preaching the Word ... I spend a good deal of time talking about our new Together, As One Conference because this is also work that I am passionate about. That we are in the midst of birthing a new conference is both exciting and daunting work but it is work that is well worth all of the hours that many folks are pouring into it. 

One of the most frequent questions that I get from folks who are curious about our joining with Connecticut and Massachusetts is “Why?” And my answer is always the same one you will hear from all of us who are working to make this new conference a reality: “We seek to be a conference in which local churches make disciples, live the love and justice of Jesus, embrace adaptive change, and build covenant partnerships with those who work for the common good.”

We are putting into place structures and processes to accomplish this vision at the conference level, but the real dream is for this to become the way that all our churches do church in the years to come. And I know that it is possible because on one of my visits to a Rhode Island church, I saw this vision in action at the Riverside Congregational Church in Riverside, RI.

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Many Voices One Mission: Hope

By Charlie Kuchenbrod, Executive Associate Conference Minister for the Connecticut Conference, UCC

There is hope, yes there is. If we are faithful and courageous, we can live the love and justice of Jesus. Christ needs a new church. We can build it.
 
I see anxiety about declining membership and financial support growing at many of our congregations. For a long time, many churches were able to cope with declining membership because the remaining members increased giving, but now this inclination to generosity is weakening or is being overwhelmed by the loss of members. For many of us, it is becoming clear that the way we “do church” – which is facility-based, professionally-led, and Sunday-morning-worship-centered is no longer viable. This is real: If one of the functions of a church is to help people grow in their relationships with God, we are not functioning very well in many church settings. This may not be new. It may be that greater membership and financial support in the past was not a reflection of functioning well – helping people grow in their relationships with God - as much as evidence of the social role churches played in our culture.

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Many Voices, One Mission is a regular series highlighting the ministries of the CT, MA, and RI Conference of the United Church of Christ.

 


Starting With Scripture: Shouting Stones

By The Rev. Susan Izard, Minster of Spiritual Life at First Church of Christ Congregational in West Hartford.

Our Lenten journey has arrived at Palm Sunday.  Luke’s Gospel records the beloved text of Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  In Luke’s version there is a colt with Jesus riding down from the Mount of Olives.  People throw their cloaks on the ground, but there are no palms, or branches from trees.  In Luke, there are no shouts of “Hosanna” but the disciples do say: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.  Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!”  (Luke 19:38) Unique to Luke, some of the Pharisees in the crowd tell Jesus to rebuke his disciples.  “He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’ 
 
Jesus seems to be saying: “You can silence these words of praise and joy, but even a stone that is solid, silent and seemingly lifeless, will sing the glory of God’s love.  All creation sings God’s glory.  All creation celebrates God’s gift of life.”

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Starting with Scripture is a weekly devotional written by current and former clergy and church leaders of the Connecticut Conference, UCC. Subscribe to receive the reflection each Monday at: ctucc.org/subscribe.

 


Conference Events 

9th Annual CTUCC Youth Revival
May 5, 3:00 to 5:00 PM
First Congregational Church in Bloomfield

What is a Revival? A dynamic worship service that will your renew your spirit.  Come and lift your praises, celebrate vitality, and embrace diversity!

Who is Invited?  All youth in grades 5 and up and their pastors, parents, or adult leaders.  Bring a few or bring your whole group; fill up your car or rent a bus and meet us in Bloomfield!


Dollars and Sense
April 24, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
South Church, New Britain, CT

A financial best practices workshop for trustees, treasurers, finance committees, and the clergy who work with them. 

Retreats that Renew and Refresh!
April 25, 6:00 to 8:30 PM
First Congregational Church, West Hartford, CT

Explore ideas for your next retreat in this Stepping Stones workshop.

2019 Spring Action Weekend
April 26 - 28
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT

Catch up with old friends, make new friends, and work hard to prepare YOUR conference center for the coming season. 

91st Spring Gathering of CT Women of the UCC
April 27, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Huntington Congregational Church, Shelton, CT

Including workshops on interracial eco-justice, recycling, and visual aspects of worship. 

Stewardship Workshop
April 30, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Ellington Congregational Church, Ellington, CT

A best practices workshop led by Charlie Kuchenbrod, Executive Associate Conference Minister of the Connecticut Conference.

How Are the Children: Advocating for the Rights of Palestinian Children
April 30, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The Palestine Museum US, Woodbridge, CT

A workshop particularly for CTUCC clergy and religious educators, but open to all, on "How Are the Children," a new curriculum developed by the national United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network.

Resolution Online Hearing for the Special Meeting of the CTUCC
May 2, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Online

Join Conference Minister The Rev. Kent Siladi and the Conference staff to hear about the proposed resolutions that will be presented at the Special Meeting of the CT Conference on May 18th.

13th Annual Silver Lake Golf Tournament 2019
May 6, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
The Country Club of Waterbury, CT

Grab your buddies and your clubs and swing into summer with a day on the links, all while helping to support the Connecticut Conference's vital outdoor ministry.

Spring Boundary Training
May 7, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Church of Christ, Congregational in Newington, CT

Morning Plenary with Rev. Ron Brown. Basic and Advanced Training for Clergy.

Simply Smiles Mission Trip - South Dakota
May 11 - 18
Spend at week Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation working to restore hope for a better future.

Zip Equip: Strategic Planning with the Tree method
May 14, 3:30 to 4:10 PM
Online

Participants will have the opportunity to explore the concepts, develop questions, and create possible next steps within their own ministry setting.

Environmental Justice for All! Retreat
May 17 - 19
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon CT

For youth in grades 8 - 12 to explore how faith and justice intersect, learn about current issues in environmental justice and find their talents to make change.

2019 Special Meeting of the CT Conference
May 18, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
First Church of Christ Congregational in West Hartford

We will gather together as a historic Connecticut Conference in this transition year to worship, receive reports from Board and staff, consider resolutions, and celebrate the Living Waters award.

Silver Lake Open House
May 19, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon, CT

In addition to tours of the camp and conference center, the high ropes course will be staffed and open to those who would like to climb, and the disc golf course will be available for those who want to test their skill with a flying disc.

InnoJazz: Church Metaphors
May 21, 2019, 3:30 PM to 4:10 PM
Online

Each session will begin with a thought prompt. Participants will be guided through a process using improv rules to discover what new possibilities creative thinking can open up their ministries.

Save the Date: The first Annual Meeting of the newly formed Together, As One Conference (CT, MA and RI) will be Nov. 1 - 2, 2019, in Worcester, MA

Classifieds

 
 

Other Events of Interest

Wilderness Companions Speaker Series
Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford, CT; 6:45 PM

April 11, Rev. Dr. James Forbes

48th Annual NEAUCE Conference
April 30 - May 2
Pilgrim Pines, Swanzey, NH

Join Christian Education colleagues for worship, fellowship, and rich discussions.

Generosity Transformed" Conference
 April 30 - May 3
Indianapolis, IN

Need to energize and revitalize your church’s strategies for faithful generosity? Does your church find it hard to talk about money? UCC Church Building & Loan Fund would like to make you aware of this ecumenical stewardship conference.

 
 

Connecticut Conference, UCC
125 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105
Toll Free in CT: 866.367.2822 | 860.233.5564